All the colours of the rainbow... in a cupcake!

This post involves sprinkles.

and RAINBOW cupcakes.

How exciting!

If you remember, I mentioned rainbow cupcakes in my 10 things Tuesday here.

Well, I just couldn't resist!

In fact, I'm so excited by this rainbow food theme, that I'm going to do a whole series of Rainbows!

Well, actually only one of the colours of the rainbow a week, but still!

But to start, I'm doing the full rainbow. In a cupcake!

It's so easy, I feel silly for never having done it before.

Literally:

1. Make white cake mix.

2. Put into individual bowls for each colour you want.

3. Add food colouring.

4. Add to cupcake trays and bake!

In fact, you could pretty much cut out step 1 by using a shop bought packet mix!

But where's the fun in that!

Or you could use your own white cake or cupcake base.

Plus, because the cakes themselves are so simple that leaves more time for icing!

Meringue Icing is so beautiful and shiny white, and it's beautiful with sprinkles.

In fact, I think rainbow sprinkles are MADE FOR meringue icing!!

Yay!

Rainbow cupcakes with Meringue icing and sprinkles!


Based on: Fairy Cakes, How to Eat by Nigella Lawson and http://daintysquid.blogspot.com.au/2010/09/colorful-cupcakes-tutorial.html

125g white sugar

125g self raising flour

125g unsalted butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 eggs

1 tsp baking powder

A pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of milk

Food colouring in any colours you like

Icing:

1 cup white sugar

1/2 cup water

2 egg whites

Line a 12 cupcake tray with white patty pans (other colours will make your cakes look disgusting and brown) and preheat the oven to 180˚c (350˚f).

Place all ingredients except the milk in a food processor and food process until combined. Add the milk and continue to process until smooth and glossy.

Divide the mixture evenly into small bowls, one per colour you wish to make. Add a small amount (2-3 drops) of colouring, mixing them to make new colours if desired, into each bowl, and stir thoroughly.

Using a teaspoon of each mix at a time, layer your colours until your patty-pans are 2/3 full (They really will rise A LOT). Bake for 15-20 minutes.

To make icing, put sugar and water in a saucepan over high heat, and stir until dissolved. Without stirring, and using a candy thermometer, leave the mixture until it reaches 116˚c (a very rapid boil of small bubbles). Remove from heat. Whip egg whites until fluffy, and add sugar syrup in a consistent stream. Continue to beat until combined.

Fill a piping bag and pipe icing onto cakes immediately, and top with pretty rainbow sprinkles. Voila!

Mia :)